The Green Party is promising to fund the removal of Auckland’s level crossings, saying the work is needed to improve safety, reduce delays and unlock the full potential of the City Rail Link.
The policy forms part of the Greens’ wider $4.125 billion transport package, with $830 million earmarked for Auckland level crossing removals over the next four years. The party says it would work with Auckland Council to determine how the programme would be funded and delivered.
Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson says level crossings remain a safety issue for people travelling by foot, bike, car and public transport. The party says Auckland has recorded almost 70 crashes and hundreds of near misses at level crossings over the past decade.
The Greens also argue removing the crossings is critical to getting greater capacity from Auckland’s rail network. They say the City Rail Link is designed to support up to 48 trains an hour, while existing crossings constrain the number of services that can operate on the Western Line.
Co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick says the investment would help address congestion while increasing the capacity of the Western Line and allowing Auckland to make greater use of the multibillion-dollar City Rail Link.
The $830 million commitment sits alongside Green proposals for electric buses, Wellington rail renewals, inter-regional public transport, new long-distance passenger rail services and cheaper public transport fares. Major new infrastructure projects costing more than $50 million would be subject to Infrastructure Commission investment assurance before funding is committed.
With transport becoming another battleground in the 2026 election campaign, Auckland’s rail network, congestion and the cost of getting around the city are increasingly forming part of the wider debate over where the next government should direct infrastructure spending.
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